The positive report on the fulfillment of the temporary benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24 (IBAR) is not a gift, but the result of great efforts by all institutions concerned, the Ministry for European Affairs (MEP) said.
In connection with the report of the Council of Europe Group of Countries against Corruption (GREKO) and IBAR, the ministry stated that the government’s goal is the full implementation of GREKO’s recommendations as well as the other recommendations of the Venice Commission and the European Commission. In addition, the closure of Chapter 23 is one of the priorities of the executive.
“A positive IBAR was not ‘given’ but is the result of a great effort by all the relevant institutions, first and foremost the government, which, together with the Commission as a body of experts, is leading the process and giving it momentum,” the MEPs said in their statement.
The government department recalled that Montenegro has been dawdling with the same or a similar number of non-fulfilled standards “on the ground” for years, and there have been virtually no changes since 2018.
“It was only during the work of this government that this status was changed,” explained the MEP.
They added that Montenegro still had 31 unfulfilled provisional benchmarks in Chapters 23 and 24 until the current government was formed.
“After receiving the IBAR, that is to say today, after the last Intergovernmental Conference, we only have six final benchmarks,” said the MEP.
They stressed that the situation today is significantly different from before, which is also reflected in the number of final benchmarks still outstanding.
“Obviously, there was no talk here of a gift, nor of a lowering of the criteria, nor is the European Commission a donor, but of a clear and measurable result and an ‘award’ that the European Commission was able to defend before the Member States and that supports Montenegro in the new and well-deserved phase of negotiations,” said the MEP.
They also recalled that the GREKO report covers the period from June 2022 to June this year, adding that the 44th government began its work on November 1 last year.
“Thus, as of 1 November, we managed to avoid MANIVAL’s ‘grey list’, the list of countries characterised by the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, obtain a positive IBAR and accept part of GREKO’s recommendations,” stressed the MEP.
They added that no relevant official or representative of any government institution has stated that the fight against corruption has ended with the receipt of the IBAR. However, they stressed that it has been mentioned countless times that this is only an important step, but that more commitments are still to come.
“Just as the GREKO report itself confirms. First of all, a consolidated record of results based on harmonised legislation in this area,” explained the MEP.
They said they would make the best use of the additional time granted to them, adding that they would probably not have needed that time if they had been able to exercise their powers from the time the recommendations were presented.
“To be more precise, we had two or 30 years to accept it, like some previous governments, and not nine months,” said the MEP.
The government did not propose the laws in an “accelerated procedure” in order to “avoid discussions”, but because it only had six months to catch up on the almost seven years of stagnation.
“That is why we stressed that these activities were an exception due to the ‘overriding interest’ that the ‘privileged status’ represents for Montenegro in today’s accession process,” the MEP explained.
They added that such and similar activities would in principle no longer be necessary in the future. They are therefore convinced that even better anti-corruption mechanisms can be created through constructive and effective discussions in accordance with the procedures.
“Not a single law or strategic document has been adopted without the possibility of its further improvement, and this cannot apply in particular to the legal sources regulating the fight against corruption,” the MEP stressed.
They added that even without GREKO’s recommendations, they were aware of the challenges that await them.
“GREKO has only helped us with its report, which was also discussed at the last government meeting,” the MPs said.
The Ministry reiterated that its goal is the full implementation of the recommendations of GREKO, as well as the other recommendations of the Venice Commission and the European Commission, since the closure of Chapter 23 is one of the priorities of the work of this government.
The MPs said that the government would continue to work on legal solutions in the coming period, but added that there was still much work ahead.
“We are aware that nothing is and will be ‘given’ to us in the process of reforming these societies, as well as in the process of European integration, and that the processes must be essential and continuous, guided by a clear political intention and the aim of improving the lives and living standards of citizens, bringing the rule of law and social rules in Montenegro closer to those in Europe,” concluded the MEP.
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